Intermittent periodic control



June is, 1946;

J. F. STRAITZ INTERMITTENT PERIODIC CONTROL Filed May 24, 1944' Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERMIT'I ENT PERIODIC CONTROL John F. Straitz, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to National Airoil Burner Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application May 24, 1944, Serial No. 537,105

2 Claims. 1

The invention relates to intermittent, periodic control.

The object is to provide actuating means adapted to function at predetermined points and for predetermined, intermittent periods.

The invention as described in the present example, is especially applicable for the control of furnace burners and industrial and commercial and domestic equipment for predetermined, intermittent periods during each twenty-four hours.

In such example, the requirement of heat output, will, in many cases, vary during the twentyfour hours.

When more heat is required during the cool hours of the morning and evening, for example, the controls may be set to provide the added necessary heat, while during the warm hours of the middle part of the day, and at night, the

automatic controls will become effective to meet the differing temperature conditions.

In accordance with my invention, the controls will be co-ordinated to interrupt or secure short or long period operations, for example, of the heater-burner, or any equipment.

As an example of suitable method or means for effecting my invention one or more dials are provided each having cam formations adjustably mounted thereon.

A switching device is provided, adapted to make and break an electric circuit, a controlling device, such as motor or valve, is adapted to be associated with the said circuit and subject to the actuations of the cams carried by the rotating dial or dials.

The dial or dials may be of any required number, each provided with spaced apart cam formations adjustably mounted on the perimeter of said dial, so positioned as to encounter the switching mechanism to open or close the switch as required at the beginning or ending of a predetermined period.

A clock is, preferably positioned in proximity with the selected dial. The dial is mounted on a post or shaft in geared relationship with the clock movement, so that the dial will have a complete rotation in each twenty-four hours; that is to say, the dial shall have desired rotation relative to the clock movement.

The dial selected for the present description is provided with markings on its face. These markings include the numbers 1 to 12, forming half of a circle, and again 1 to 12, completing the circle. These numerals are evenly spaced and arranged near the outer periphery of the dial. Actuating cams are provided with resilient parallel extensions for clamping engagement with the marginal part of the dial so that the cams are normally held in their respective adjusted positions. Ihe upper or outer extension of each of said cam formations serves as a pointer or indicator of the position of the actuating pin or cam to which it is attached.

In addition to the numbers 1-12 repeated, to form a complete circle, another circle is formed between said number circle and the axis. In said smaller circle are provided the notations of the different periods of day and night, as for example morning afternoon evening and night. These notations will cooperate with the encircling numbers, and will serve to indicate the beginning and ending, or on and off periods.

A mark, representing an arrow, on a stationary part of the device, and pointing radially to the center of the dial post, serves to indicate the critical point of initial position and actuation of the switch.

In other words the imaginary line extending from said mark to the axis is the line upon which the several actuating devices become effective.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates merely by way of example, suitable means for effecting my invention;

Fig. l is a front elevation of the dial and associated mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation, with the dial removed.

Fig. 3 is a. view in perspective of the rear side of the dial with the resilient cam supporting arms.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the dial I0 is shown as mounted on the hollow shaft I I, which is geared to the clock works by a gear or gear system including pinion I2 and gear wheel I3, and therefore operates relatively to the clock works. A number of resilient strips or arms I4 are recessed at one end and mounted on the shaft II. The other end of each strip is provided with a cam formation I5 adapted to fit over the edge of the dial III. This cam formation I5 comprises a pointer directed radially toward the axis of the dial and over the outer or front surface thereof. Upon the underside of each arm I4 is mounted a pin I6 projecting downwardly from the said strip or arm I4. These pins or cams are arranged to travel in two parallel circular lines, all within the margin of the dial. The pins of one line of travel are shorter than the pins of the other line.

Another part of the cam formation I5. is provided with a projection I! (see Fig. 4) adapted to cooperate with any one of a number of recesses I8 on the face of the dial, (see Fig. 1) for normally locking the cam; in adjusted position.

A suitable switch i9 is placedin the electrical circuit with which the motor, valve, or other moving element is connected. This switch I9 has a lever such as 20, associated therewith, which is placed in the path of either or both of the cam pins, so that upon engagement of a cam with the switch the circuit is eitheropened or closed.

It will thus be seen, that when the cams are properly mounted on the dial, and the dial rotates under the action of the clock movement, the cams are arranged to break or make circuit. The cams are distinguished by having the pointers 23 of one set distinguished from those of the other set by marking the pointers of the. respective sets with different shapes or colors, as for example, black and white. The black cam may break the circuit While the white cam may be actuated to close the circuit.

In operation, the arrow 2| indicates the initial or starting point of the dials rotation. The pointer 23 is shown in Fig. 1, aspointing to the numeral 6 between the night and morning.

This pointer 23 is shown as; white which indicates that the circuit is closed during the period of travel from the position of the black pointer 23 t0 the position, indicated by the arrow 2|, whereupon the switch is actuated tobreak the circuit.

It will thus be understood that, as, the dial rotates and the pointers and cams reachand pass the line indicated by the arrow 2|, the device will act automatically to increase or lower. the temperature in accordance with the schedule,

and this schedule may be altered from time tomatically locking. Thewire screen 24 is hinged at- 26 to the framework and provided with a key operated spring lock 25, serving to protectthe dial from unauthorized tampering with the same. The wire strands 21 are of sufiiciently; fine gage-to present little obstruction of sight. This is especially desirable in such equipment for hotels, apartment houses or the like.

It will be noted, as shown in Fig. 3, that a plurality of arms 14 are secured at their inner ends to the tubular shaft II and are movable about the axis of the shaft in order to carry the several cams and pointers to the desired positions of adjustment. The number of arms l4 and formations carried thereon, will depend upon the number 01 stops and starts periods. Where single start and st0p is desired only two arms are required.

In substituting the new or selected dial it is only. necessary to release the locking device to release the dial then in use, and then strip the superfluous arms from said post, that is except as, to the, number it i desired to retain. The single dial and supporting arms are then replaced and the cams and indicators adjusted to proper positions.

This time control fuel saver is especially adapted to control the operations of air compressors, drinking fountains, domestic oil burners, commercial oil burners, industrial oil burner equipment and electric signs, andmany other devices, where periodic intermittent operation is advantageous.

What I claim is:

1. In an intermittent periodic controlling device, a dial, a dial supporting post, clock driven means for rotating the post, cam formations ad justable on the periphery of the dial and arranged in spaced relation thereon, a plurality of resilient arms extending from the post to saidcam formations and clamping the same in their adjustment on the periphery of the dial, said arms being provided at their inner ends with circular openings having a movable fit on the post to permit pivotal movement of the arms, and means on the arms for directly actuating a.

switch at predetermined times.

2. In an intermittent periodic controlling device, a dial provided adjacent its periphery with a plurality of recesses, a dial supporting post, clock driven means for rotating said post, cam formations adjustable on the periphery of the dial and arranged in spaced relation thereon, a plurality of resilient arms extending from the post of'said cam formations and; clamping the same in their adjustment on the periphery ofthedial, said arms being provided at their inner ends with circular openings having a movable fit on the post to permit pivotal movement of the arms, means on the arms for directly actuating a switch at predetermined times, and, pointers carried by the cam formations and directed 11adially towards the axi of the dial at the front face thereof and provided withprojections engaging said recesses.

JOHN F. STRAITZ; 

